The Adventures of Roderick Random

Return to the Ship

Roderick returns through the darkness to Mrs. Sagely’s cottage, where she comforts him. He leaves her twenty guineas as a token of gratitude and walks to the inn where Strap awaits in great distress. The two ride to Deal, arriving to find the captain has received his dispatches and must sail with the first fair wind. The next day, a brisk easterly gale arises, and they set sail, clearing the Channel within forty-eight hours.

Destination Disclosed

Two hundred leagues west of Land’s End, the captain reveals the true nature of their voyage. The ship is bound for the coast of Guinea, where they will exchange part of their cargo for slaves and gold dust. From there, they will transport the Negroes to Buenos Ayres in New Spain and sell both the slaves and remaining goods for silver, using passports obtained from both the English and Spanish courts. Roderick borrows Spanish language materials from the supercargo and studies the language with such application that he can hold conversations before arriving in New Spain. He also has the ship’s company bled and purged as a preventive measure against fevers, which proves beneficial as only one sailor is lost during the passage.

Chase by a Large Ship

After five weeks at sea, a large ship appears to windward, bearing down with all sail set. The captain orders studding-sails hoisted and the ship cleared for engagement. When the pursuer hoists French colors, the captain orders the sails taken in, guns loaded, and every man to quarters. Strap appears trembling on the quarterdeck and Roderick arranges for him to be stationed below with the surgeon’s mates.

Captain’s Speech

The sailors grow fearful, complaining that they would be torn to pieces and that no provision exists for those maimed in service. The captain assembles the crew and delivers an inspiring speech, reminding them that he has gone to sea for thirty years and never seen English sailors afraid. He points out that his cargo is insured, so his own loss would not be great if captured, and promises to compensate any man who is wounded. He denounces the lazy and cowardly, calling on true seamen to stand by him for the honor of Old England. The speech has its effect; the crew cheers three times, receives a dram of brandy, and repairs to their quarters with renewed courage.

English Man of War

As the enemy ship draws near, displaying two tiers of guns and being just two miles astern, the captain is about to give the order to fire when the supposed French vessel hauls down its white pennant and ensign, hoists English colors, and fires a gun ahead. The ship proves to be an English man-of-war of forty guns, commanded by an old messmate of the captain’s. The ship had been disguised with white fleur-de-lis and otherwise disguised to decoy French vessels. The captains dine together, and Roderick and the supercargo are also invited and entertained. After keeping company for four days, the ships part, their courses lying in different directions.

Purchase of Slaves at Guinea

Within a fortnight of parting from the English man-of-war, they make the coast of Guinea near the mouth of the River Gambia. Trading along the coast as far south as Angola and Bengula, they dispose of the greatest part of their cargo within six months and purchase four hundred Negroes, with Roderick’s adventure laid out in gold dust.

Arrival at Paraguay

Taking their departure from Cape Negro, they arrive in the Rio de la Plata in six weeks. An epidemic fever, resembling jail distemper, breaks out among the slaves and carries off many of the crew, including one of Roderick’s mates, and nearly claims Strap’s life. Presenting their passport to the Spanish governor, they are received with courtesy and sell their slaves in a few days, discovering they could have sold five times the number at their own price. The remaining merchandise, consisting of European bale-goods, must be smuggled but is disposed of at great advantage.